Joseph bapybieei



Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ELECTRIC SHOE.

Application led Gctober 12, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrr-i BARBIERI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at St. Vincent de Paul, Province of Quebec,

Cana-da, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Electric Shoes; and l do hereby decla-re that the following is a full, clearfand enact description of the invention9 such las will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to ma re and use the same. i

The present invention pertains to an electric shoe designed to generate a current while the wearer is walking.

The primary obj ect of the invention is the provision of a device of this character carrying a small generator and driving means, whereby current may be generated and used for various purposes on the body of the wearer. The current generated may be employed to operate such a device as an electric lamp7 a heating coil, a small wireless outt, a therapeut-ic appliance or the like. To this end7 the heel of the shoe is formed in two parts which are relatively slidable.

The spring inserted between the parts normally tends to separate them. @n the downward stroke yof the foot, the parts are compressed and the generator is driven from the pressure by means of a suitable mechanism provided for the purpose.

The invention further includes a locking device by means of which the parts may be retained in compressed position and thereby rendered inoperative during the walking.

In this manner the generator may be rendered inoperative when its use is not desired.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which: l Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of the devise expanded;

Figure 2 is a similar View 0f the devicecamptessed;

Eisere is. a section 011th@ line 3-3 of Fleurs l.;

'Figure 4.: is; a section @n the lin@ Ae-e of Ei 2';

figure?) is a detail 0i" Figure l;

Figure 6 is a verttal ,Seten 0f a meded fern; i11- espanded neat-imi and.

Serial No. 668,218.

Figure Z is a section at right angles to Figure 6 showing the device compressed.

Reference will now be had to these views by means of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

The numeral 1 indicates a shoe of usual construction, the heel of which comprises a hollow member 2 lined to the shoe and a. heel member 3 slidable with reference to the member n through the bottom thereof. The member 2 is formed on its inner surface with a rack 4f which is adapted to extend into the member 2 through a slot 5 formed in the latter. A stub shaft 6 is suitably journaled in the lower section and carries a pinion 7 which meshes with the rack 4. Adjacent the shaft 6 and slightly below the same is mounted a counter-shaft 8. On this shaft is loosely mounted a gear 9 which is in engagement with the pinion 7 as shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 5. Adjacent the loose gear 9 is disposed a ratchet wheel 10 keyed to the shaft. The face of the loose gear has pivoted thereto a pair of pawls 11 which are drawn into engagement with the ratchet by means of springs 12. The operation of this feature is pointed out below. rlhe shaft 8 also carries a bevel gear 13 which is spaced from the loose gear 9 as shown in Figure 3.

rEhe inner face of the lower section 3 is provided with a bracket ll beneath the lower end of which is placed a bearing strip 15 supported in the walls of the section. rlhe bracket and strip support a stub shaft 16 which carries a bevel pinion 17 meshing with the bevel gear 13. Inwardly of the stub shaft 16 is provided a countershaft 18 in parallel relation thereto. rlhis shaft is journaled in the cross piece 15 and in the bottom of the section as illustrated in F igure 1. The lower end of the shaft carries a large driving gear 19.

Near the top of the lower section and against the wall thereof is supported a cage 20 in which is contained an electric generator. This member consists of the conventional iield coils 21 which surround an armature 22 carried on a shaft 23; The shaft is journaled in the tcp 24: of the section inthe,- bettom there@ as ,illustrated in Figure 1. The lower end of the shaft carries a pinion Q5 meshing with the driving gear 19 by means of which the generator is driven. The shai't 23 also carries a fly wheel 26 for an obvious purpose.

An expansion spring 27 is mounted within the upper section 2 in such a manner as to bear against the top of each section. The bottom of the lower section is fitted with a rubber heel 28. In the operation of the device, the downward movement of the foot in the process of walking causes the upper section to move downwardly with reference to the lower section until the condition shown in Figure 2 is attained. In this operation the rack 4t causes rotation of the pinion 7 which in turn rotates the gear 9 in a counter-clockwise direction. The pawls 11 carried with the loose gear 9 turn the ratchet 10 which is keyed to the shaft 8. Consequently the bevel gear 13 is rotated and motion is imparted to the bevel pinion 17. Since the bevel gear is keyed to the stub shaft 16, the countershaft 18 is rotated through the intermediate gears 16 and 18. In this manner `the driving gear 19 is set into operation and transmits its power to the armature shaft through the medium of the pinion 25.

When the shoe is raised from the ground, the sections separate by the action of the spring 27. In this movement the loose gear 9 turns in a clockwise direction and the pawls 11 consequently slip over the ratchet wheel 10. As a result of this condition, the shaft 8 is: not rotated on the expansion stroke, and the generator receives no driving power. The momentum of the fly wheel 26, however, is suiiicient to keep the generator in operation during this stroke. If desired, a storage spring may be provided in the device to receive energy during the compression stroke and deliver it to the armature shaft during the expansion stroke. Such a device may be constructed in any manner already known in the art.

The current generated by the device may be used for operating any instrument that be carried on the body of the wearer or" the shoe. Such an instrument may be an electric lamp, a heating device, a small wireless outfit, a therapeutic appliance or the like.

To the outside of the upper section 2 is pivoted a latch 29 having a projection 80. The wall of the section is formed with an aperture 31 adapted to receive the projection, while the lower section is formed with a similar aperture 32 adapted to aline with the opening 31 when the parts are pressed together as in Figure 2. If the projection is passed through both apertures, the parts are locked and the device rendered inoperative.

In Figures 6 and 7 are shown sections of a modification which is more suitable in connection with a ladys shoe or a. French heel. The lower section 2 slidable within the uppeil section 1 carries a rack 3 which operates a train of gearing generally designated by the numeral a() and similar in 'l'unction and operation to the gearing already described. A latch 29 is also provided and operates in the same manner as that shown in Figures 1 and 2. The bot tom of the lower'section is formed with a plate 11, while the spring Q7 rests on the bottom of the lower section and bears against the plate l11.

The sections may be formed of any desired or suitable material, but should preferably be coated with leather or paint in order to have the appearance of a conventional heel.

hile a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus Jfully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1. An electric shoe comprising a pair of relatively slidable heel sections, a rack carried by one of said sections, a pinion rotatably supported in the other section and in engagement with said rack, a generator supported in one of said sections, and means for driving the generator from the pinion.

2. An electric shoe comprising a pair of relatively slidable heel sections, a rack car ried by one of said sections, a pinion rotatably supported in the remaining section and in engagement with said rack, a countershai't journaled in the latter section, a loose gear mounted on said countershaft and in engagement with the pinion, a ratchet wheel keyed to the countershaft and disposed adjacent the loose gear, pawls carried by the loose gear and engaging the ratchet, a generator supported in one ot said sections, and means for driving the generator from the countcrshaft.

8. An electric shoe comprising a pair of relatively slidable heel sections, a rack carried by oneY of said sections, a pinion ro tatably supported in the other section and in engagement with said rack, a generator supported in one of said sections, means for driving the generator from the pinion, and a spring contained in one of said sections and bearing against the other sections, said spring tending to separate the sections.

4. An electric shoe comprising a pair of relatively slidable heel sections, a rack carried by one of said sections, a pinion ro tatably supported in the remaining section and in engagement with said rack, a counfrom the countershaft, and a spring contained in one of said sections and bearing against the other section, said spring tending to separate the sections.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH BARBIERI. 

